Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
These are Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, speaking to the crowds following Him early in His ministry. Jesus taught them how to live for God and not for the world, to turn to God’s ways and God’s word. He spoke of the law in a new way, not dismissing it in any way, but fulfilling it in every way.
Because God is perfect, I must be perfect to be held within the fold of His holiness. Because of the fall and my sin, this is impossible for me accomplish alone. I need Jesus. He made the ultimate sacrifice to become my holiness, my perfection. His blood shed for me perfects me. Still, here on this ground, in this body, my ways are not perfect. My access to holiness is only in Him. When I defer and acknowledge Him, He is there. He is the finisheded work I could never accomplish. His work—and His work only—is perfection.
It is arrogant and prideful to believe I can set my own standards and work perfectly to reach them. But inviting Jesus into my hours is allowing God’s perfect will. When I read Jesus’ words: Be perfect, I hear: Do what I have told you. Serve Me. Let Me work in you. Prepare yourself, humble yourself, be willing for Me to work perfectly in you and in all of your ways. It is through Him I am perfected.
God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33
Meeting God at the Park 